January Fitness Update

Well, I've been kicking ass this year on the working out front. Almost every work day, I've been at the gym at least once, sometimes twice! I'm starting hot yoga for a month soon, and after that, it may be onto Lithe or Rowzone to vary my workouts with running, cardio classes, circuit training and weight lifting. I feel like I've done well over the past year building up a repertoire of exercises that will help me get to where I want to be.

On the not so kick ass side of things has been my winter eating habits. I seem to be hungry all the time, no matter how much fiber and protein I try to pack in, and I've been basically eating everything in site! I'm still trying to make healthy choices, but true to form, I haven't really restricted anything from my diet. I am up to 197 pounds as of this morning, which, if you were keeping track, is almost 8 pounds heavier than my lowest weight last year. I think I've really got to make some big changes with how I'm eating if I want to reach my goal of 184 before my birthday this year. I know April seems a ways off, but it always creeps up on me and I've never been this close before! It's actually doable this year! I just need to...you know...do it.

So, on the horizon, continuing to pursue workouts like a champ, snacking on copious amounts of fruit, protein bars, tea and nuts to keep me full during the week and making better choices for what I stuff my face with on the weekends. Practicing mindful eating is something I want to keep at, though it has been hard for me. And I may look into a short fast/cleanse once I get my tax return or yearly bonus from work, just to jumpstart what I know I'm already good at doing for the most part...eating healthy foods!

Stay tuned for next month, where I'll talk about how my month of yoga was, and give an update on where my weight is after trying to reignite my motivation three weeks into the year.

Steering the Year Ahead

Good morning! It's new year's day, and I was up at the crack of dawn like many years in recent past, filled with energy, ready to take on the world. So what do I do? In years past, I've made oodles of fancy pancakes, gone for a run, bought new work clothes, emailed friends. But I always seem to, in some form, make some new year's resolutions.

 I tried to be smart with mine this year. Nothing too lofty, but nothing too vague either. I know I haven't really fostered a community of commentators on my blog, but I'd love to hear *your* resolutions if you'd like to share them.

Please note, this is separate, in tandem with, and choreographed alongside my yearly bucket list that I write with friends at our birthdays. Those goals are truly measurable, whereas these seem to be more guidelines to steer the year ahead.

Here goes:

1. Write. Often. Anything. Practice makes perfect. Get just a tiny bit better this year.

2. Work out on more days this year. Last year, it was more than half. This year, make it two thirds. No rules about what or for how long.

3. Stay smart with money. Before committing to anything, as small as a latte, as big as a trip, figure out if it can be done 100% without credit. Keep saving little by little. Throw a little extra at my smallest loan if I can. We can do this.

4. Remember how much you love your job. Find new ways to get better at it. Continue to make it a priority, with a smile on your face.

5. Keep cooking. Take notes. Don't be afraid to try new things.

6. Work on giving digital photos a new lease on life off the hard drive and in the cloud. Sharing is caring.

7. Pare down possessions. Stuff for the sake of stuff isn't worth much.

8. Tell, and show, the ones you love that you do. Letters, cards, poems, pictures- all good ways to do more of #1 and #3 too.

9. Follow through on all promises. Cause that's the kinda chick you are.

 10. Last but never least, don't rely on anyone else to tell you you're smart or beautiful or worth it. Ever ever.